Obama fans have already called a party in Delhi

Democrat supporters among American voters in India believe the wave for change will swing things their way

NEW DELHI: Supporters of Barack Obama among US citizens in New Delhi are so confident he will be the next president of the United States they are planning a party at the Asoka Hotel starting 7.30 am, to coincide with the results.

The feeling among Democrats is that the wave for change sweeping through the US will take Obama to the White House.

Most of the 10,000-or-so US citizens living in India are following the Presidential elections much more closely than in the past. They have already cast their vote since they need to send in their postal ballots to their home state before the official counting begins. The majority of ex pat Americans in India have voted for Obama, though there is a section of die hard Republican support for John Mcain too.

Republican loyalists are hard to find in New Delhi, though. Most are in the embassy and not authorised to speak. Ambassador David Mulford is a personal friend of George Bush.

Both major parties have their chapters in India. Renee Nielsen, chairman Republicans Abroad, is based in Mumbai, while the Democrats Abroad chairperson Carolyn Sauvage-Mar, works out of Delhi. Democrats Abroad began in India in 2004 with just four members. “Our membership has grown. On super Tuesday in February over 60 per cent of our members voted for Obama over Hillary Clinton,” says Carolyn Sauvage-Mar. “I personally backed Obama for his vision of the future. He is best suited. He has surrounded himself with the right people and I am confident he’ll deliver,” she said.

“We need Obama to put America back on track... and get the economy functioning as it did during the Clinton presidency,” says Hans Sachdev, an American Indian.
Both Democrats and Republicans living in the capital will go to the American Center in the capital to watch the counting on Wednesday. The invitations have already gone out to journalists to join the ex pats for “fun and breakfast” as the count is telecast in huge screens especially put up at the centre.

In Bangalore, Americans will watch the results in a city hotel. About 200 Bangaloreans, including about 70-80 Americans, will get together at The Chancery Pavilion to watch the elections on larger-than-life television screens.
g_seema@dnaindia.net